Preschooler's Health Deteriorates in Texas Immigration Detention Center
Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old preschool student apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis last week, is now experiencing significant health problems according to his school district superintendent. The young boy and his father were transferred to a Texas detention facility where medical conditions have reportedly declined.
School Official Expresses Grave Concerns
Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the Columbia Heights Public Schools district that Ramos attends, revealed she spoke with the child's mother this week and learned disturbing details about his deteriorating condition. "Unfortunately, Liam's health is not doing great right now," Stenvik told HuffPost. "He's been ill. I've been told he has a fever. So I'm very, very concerned about his well-being in that facility."
The superintendent described the mother as "incredibly distraught" over her son's situation. Ramos' mother provided specific details about his symptoms earlier this week, telling MPR News: "Liam is getting sick because the food they receive is not of good quality. He has stomach pain, he's vomiting, he has a fever and he no longer wants to eat."
Detention Despite Legal Status
Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, remain confined at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. This detention continues despite attorney Marc Prokosch's assertion that Arias entered the United States legally and maintains a clean criminal record. The family's legal representative did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on the situation.
In a significant legal development late Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking federal immigration officials from deporting Ramos and his father, providing at least a brief reprieve from immediate removal proceedings.
"Absolutely Abysmal" Facility Conditions
Attorney Eric Lee, who represents other families detained at the same Texas facility, described the conditions as "absolutely abysmal" in comments to Minnesota Public Radio. Lee detailed numerous concerning issues observed at the detention center:
- Baby formula mixed with putrid water
- Food contaminated with insects
- Frequent verbal abuse from guards
- Inadequate medical response to serious conditions
Lee provided a particularly disturbing example: "One of my clients had appendicitis, collapsed in the hallway, was vomiting from pain, and the officials told him, 'Take a Tylenol and come back in three days.'"
Congressional Visit and Advocacy
Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, visited the Dilley detention facility on Wednesday to meet with detained children and families, including Ramos and his father. Following the visit, Castro posted a photograph on social media showing the five-year-old either sleeping or lying weakly in his father's arms as the congressman stood beside them.
"Just visited with Liam and his father at Dilley detention center," Castro wrote in his post. "I demanded his release and told him how much his family, his school, and our country loves him and is praying for him."
Background of the Detention
Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was initially detained on January 20, 2026, in a Minneapolis suburb. The Columbia Heights Public Schools district has been actively monitoring the situation and advocating for the young student's welfare since his apprehension by immigration authorities.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about immigration enforcement practices involving children and families, particularly regarding detention conditions and medical care availability in government facilities. The temporary deportation block provides limited protection while legal proceedings continue, but concerns about Ramos' immediate health and well-being remain pressing for his family, school officials, and advocates.
